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Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5:1-2
It has often been said that imitation is the highest form of flattery. I can remember as a child, imitating my favorite athletes. I would wear their jersey and pretend I was playing for their team. My brother and I would even play football dressed up in full Michigan football gear. Children also tend to imitate things their parents or friends say and do.
As we grow older, we tend to imitate different things. Instead of imitating star athletes, we imitate successful business people by reading countless different books promising the way to success. We also imitate the images of what the world sees as popular – the current hair styles, dress, and accessories. This desire to imitate has led to self-improvement products being a billion dollar industry. Are those things really worth while imitating?
Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:1 that as Christians, we are to imitate God. As children imitate their fathers – we are to imitate our Heavenly Father. But how can we be imitators of God if God is perfect and holy, and we are imperfect sinners? Paul gives us the answer in Ephesians 4:24 when he says, “and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” This new self was created at our Baptism, as our old sinful nature was drowned and a new self emerged. This continues daily as 2 Corinthians 4:16says, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” If imitation is the highest form of flattery, we could also say that imitation is the highest form of worship. Our imitation of God gives Him glory.
As Paul reminds us, one of the chief ways that we imitate God is by walking in the way of love and forgiveness that was shown to us by Christ Himself. Christ was not only the perfect example of love and forgiveness, but He was also the perfect and ultimate sacrifice for our sins. His perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection has given us complete forgiveness for our sins – and along with that, the ability to imitate that love and forgiveness to others.
May we always be reminded of the “new self” we are clothed with through Christ’s perfect sacrifice, and therefore be imitators of God, as His beloved children!
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